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Supreme sacrifice

CHENNAI: Id-ul-Adha, which is also popularly known as Bakrid is the commemoration of the historical event of the sacrifice of Hazrath Ismail (A.S.) by his prophet-father Hazrath Ibrahim (A.S.). Once when Hazrath Ibrahim (A.S.) was in Masher-al-Haram along with his wife and son, he dreamt that he was slaughtering his son Ismail (A.S.). Hazrath Ibrahim (A.S.) construed the dream as the command of Allah and told his son Ismail (A.S) about it. Hazrath Ismail (A.S.) himself a prophet, readily consented.

The rising sun of 10th Zilhaj saw the strange scene of a father slaughtering his son. It was a spiritual task beyond the narrow confines of human comprehension. However, there was something else in store. Hazrath Ibrahim (A.S.) with eyes swollen and raw from crying saw his son standing safe and a slaughtered lamb lying on the ground in lieu. Hazrath Ibrahim (A.S.) was overwhelmed with joy and thanked Allah but had doubt as to whether his sacrifice has been rejected. Thereupon Allah said, “O Ibrahim! You have indeed materialised your dream; surely thus do we reward the doers of good. Most surely this is a manifest trial. And we have ransomed him with great sacrifice. And we perpetuated (praised) to him among the later generation.” (Saffat: Verse 104-8) According to Islamic scholars great sacrifice here in figurative sense is the supreme sacrifice of Imam Hussain (A.S.) in 60 A.H.

Qurbani is performed by the Muslims the world over on 10th Zilhaj to celebrate the glory of sacrifice of Hazrath Ibrahim which is similar to the ritual performed by the Hajis during Haj in Makkah. It is enjoined upon every Muslim who can afford, to sacrifice a defect-free camel of five years, cow or he-goat of one year, ewe, sheep or she-goat of six months in Qurbani. Equality, the cardinal principle of Islam, has defined the distribution of the meat thus obtained into three parts and makes it incumbent to retain one for the family, distribute the second among the neighbours and the third to be given away to the deserving and the destitute so that the marginalised and the poor may gain access to delicious food at least on the solemn occasion of Id.

Mir Mazher Hussain,

Chennai

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